I stayed in Los Angels and Hawaii for more than 2 weeks in the beginning of this year. It was so great because I could be relaxed very well. I got home just yesterday.

In LA and Hawaii, I was with Kondoh Masahiko-san, Higashiyama-san, Akasaka-san, TOKIO, and Mori Mitsuko-san. We are out with these people altogether everyday. I talked with Kondoh-san for the first time, but he was such a nice person!!! He and his family had a party in LA and I was invited there. Kondoh-san cooked such a big lobster for me, and it was soooo good! He likes playing with a radio-controlled model plane, and he asked me to play together next time.

Hey, you know I traveled by myself in LA! But it means just that I went to buy suits alone.....I don't go shopping alone even in Tokyo because I have kinda no sense of direction so it was a big incident for me! (laugh) I was told that I was going to the 'formal' restaurant with Mori-san, but I didn't have any 'formal' clothes at that time. All I had then was just a pair of jeans and a unsophisticated jacket...(laugh) I thought "This must be too rude in such an occasion" so I decided to go get that formal clothes. But one of the company staff who can speak English had to go back to Japan, and thus he told me that he couldn't go with me....so I decided to go by myself. I set an alarm clock and then went to bed (laugh). Next morning, I left a hotel with a full strength. The hotel where I stayed was in Bevery Hills, so I went to Rodeo Drive, where Julia Roberts did shopping in the movie "Pretty Woman" I remember Aiba went there for the shooting of '8J' before. I felt as if I were a 'Pretty Boy' (laugh). (With the melody of 'A-RA-SHI') "sousa bokura wa 'Pretty Boy'! we are cool!"(laugh) I went into this shop being excited like this, but I was in a hell after that (laugh). Because the clerks spoke only English, I couldn't understand anything. Anyway, I did some sort of pantomimes using 'yes' and 'no' and finally managed to pick up the suits, which were just normal, black ones. I could also tell them to shorten the pants, but the clerk said "2 hours" at that time. I, then, misunderstood that he was saying "2 days" so I got upset and said "No! No! (Hmm....how can I say 'ima (=now)' in English....oh, I said 'Now' in my magic...) Now!" Then, the clerk wrote down on the paper like "It's 12 at noon, and you should come back here at 2." I finally understood what he meant. (laugh)

I had a trouble with English in another situation. When staying in my hotel room, a person came to clean up the room, right? I wanted to say like, "Because I'm going out pretty soon, please come again a bit later." but I couldn't find suitable words for it. At the door of my room, I was frozen saying just "Ah~~~~~~" and me and the housekeeper were just staring each other (laugh) In addition, I wore only my underwear at that time (laugh). Then, I remember, "Oh, during the wrestling games, it says '10 minutes' or something..." so I tried to say "10 minutes!" to her, and then she said "Oh, OK!" I felt at east then. It was a really hard time for me...(laugh) I think learning English is very important...while I'm in foreign countries (laugh). But when I come back to Japan, I tend to feel like, "Well, I don't use English so often here, anyway." Nevertheless, what is called 'hearing'? I get to understand what people say in English better though.

In Hawaii, I couldn't go to sea often although I was thinking about getting tan. I stayed only for 1 hour or so on the beach in front of the hotel, with watching girls in swimsuits (laugh). This must be essential for us to enjoy staying on the beach right? (laugh) Then, I swam a little bit in the shallow part of the sea. When I was getting close to the deep part, I went back to the beach right away. Oh, I don't mean that I can't swim though.

I really enjoyed this trip to LA and Hawaii, but I wish it had been more enjoyable if I could go there with one more Jr. Tsubasa and Jun phoned me in LA. Aiba, too, told me that he bought a souvenior for me in Hawaii. I understood, then, "OK, it means that I have to buy something for him here, too" (laugh) Anyway, I bought soaps for them.

If I go on a travel with someone? Hmm...I'll choose Tsubasa because he is not noisy and I can feel relaxed when being with him. Actually, I have a work with him after this shooting and we are planning to eat out together. I want to eat good Japanese food now! After I got here yesterday, what do you think I ate first? It was Instant noodle. Oh, what a pity!!!